Plant growing system containing a super amount of a controlled-released fertilizer and methods of using the same

Abstract

The invention relates to a plant growing system having (a) plant life; (b) a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer to provide season-long performance; and (c) growing media. The planting growing system may also include a moisture control agent or a plant protection agent. Despite the high EC values of the growing system, the combination of materials that make up the growing system nevertheless produces superior performing plants with darker green, healthier-looking leaves; superior growth, fill and spread; more abundant production of flowers and fruits; and a more developed, sustaining root system. Moreover, these plants are far less susceptible to the effects of pests such as fungi (e.g., Fusarium and Rhizoctonia ), pythium, caterpillars, thrips, whiteflies, and other pests.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A plant growing system comprising
 (a) plant life; 
 (b) a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer to provide season-long performance; and 
 (c) growing media, wherein said plant growing system is contained in a pot or container, and wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is 15 to 60 grams of a controlled-release fertilizer per 0.8-1.3 L pot or container, wherein said controlled-release fertilizer releases nutrients over 3-4 months, 5-6 months, or 8-9 months, and further wherein the plant growing system has an electrical conductivity (EC) of about 7 mS/cm to about 18 mS/cm determined using the PourThru method. 
 
     
     
       2. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein the plant life is a plant, plant cutting, young plant or seed. 
     
     
       3. The plant growing system of  claim 2 , wherein the plant is geranium, petunia, impatiens or verbena, vinca, cleome, sunflower, lantana, mandevilla, penta, penstemon, marigold, rudbeckia, viola, pansy or zinnia. 
     
     
       4. The plant growing system of  claim 2 , wherein the plant has superior genetics that enhance yield, aesthetics and garden performance compared to a plant growing system that does not have a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer. 
     
     
       5. The plant growing system of  claim 2 , wherein the plant is a hybrid plant. 
     
     
       6. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a moisture control agent. 
     
     
       7. The plant growing system of  claim 6 , wherein the moisture control agent comprises a water-absorbable polymer. 
     
     
       8. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plant protection agent. 
     
     
       9. The plant growing system of  claim 8 , wherein the plant protection agent is a fungicide, insecticide, or pesticide. 
     
     
       10. The plant growing system of  claim 8 , wherein the plant protection agent is controlled/time-released. 
     
     
       11. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein the super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is 15-30 grams per 0.8-1.3 liter pot or container. 
     
     
       12. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein the growing media comprises peat, perlite, wheat straw, biodigester remains, bark, coir, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       13. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein said pot or container is biodegradable and/or plantable. 
     
     
       14. The plant growing system of  claim 13 , wherein the biodegradable pot or container comprises a molded material, a formed material, a composted material, a shaped material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       15. The plant growing system of  claim 13 , wherein the biodegradable pot or container comprises peat, wheat straw, coconut fiber, manure, paper pulp, brown or white sugarcane fibers, coir, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       16. The plant growing system of  claim 13 , wherein the growing media comprises a soilless growing medium. 
     
     
       17. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein the super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is in the form of fertilizer sticks. 
     
     
       18. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is a combination of controlled-release fertilizers. 
     
     
       19. The plant growing system of  claim 18 , wherein the combination comprises two controlled-release fertilizers. 
     
     
       20. A plant growing system comprising
 (a) plant life; 
 (b) a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer to provide season-long performance; and 
 (c) growing media, wherein said plant growing system is contained in a pot or container, wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is 15-30 grams of a combination of two controlled-release fertilizers per 0.8-1.3 L pot or container, wherein said controlled-release fertilizer releases nutrients over 3-4 months, 5-6 months, or 8-9 months, and further wherein the plant growing system has an electrical conductivity (EC) of about 7 mS/cm to about 18 mS/cm determined using the PourThru method. 
 
     
     
       21. The plant growing system of  claim 20 , wherein said super amount of a controlled release fertilizer is 2.5 grams of 5-6 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012) and 15 grams of 3-4 month controlled-release fertilizer (19 Jun. 2010) per 0.8-1.3L pot or container. 
     
     
       22. The plant growing system of  claim 20 , further comprising a moisture control agent. 
     
     
       23. The plant growing system of  claim 20 , further comprising a plant protection agent. 
     
     
       24. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is 30 grams of 8-9 M controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012). 
     
     
       25. A plant growing system comprising (a) plant life;
 (b) a super amount 
 
       of a controlled-release fertilizer; and
 (c) growing media, wherein said plant growing system is contained in a pot or container, wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is about 1.5-9 grams of nitrogen per plant, wherein said controlled-release fertilizer releases nutrients over 3-4 months, 5-6 months, or 8-9 months, and further wherein the plant growing system has an electrical conductivity (EC) of about 7 mS/cm to about 18 mS/cm determined using the PourThru method. 
 
     
     
       26. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is about 2-5 grams of nitrogen per plant. 
     
     
       27. A plant growing system comprising
 (a) plant life; 
 (b) a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer to provide season-long performance; and 
 (c) growing media, wherein said plant growing system is contained in a pot or container, and wherein said super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is about 2-9 grams of nitrogen per 0.8-1.3 L pot or container, wherein said controlled-release fertilizer releases nutrients over 3-4 months or 5-6 months, wherein said plant life is planted in said pot or container comprising said a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer and said growing media, and further wherein the plant growing system has an electrical conductivity (EC) of about 7 mS/cm to about 18 mS/cm determined using the PourThru method. 
 
     
     
       28. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein the plant is geranium, petunia, impatiens or verbena, vinca, cleome, sunflower, lantana, mandevilla, penta, penstemon, marigold, rudbeckia, viola, pansy or zinnia. 
     
     
       29. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein the plant has superior genetics that enhance yield, aesthetics and garden performance compared to a plant growing system that does not have a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer. 
     
     
       30. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein the plant is a hybrid plant. 
     
     
       31. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , further comprising a moisture control agent. 
     
     
       32. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , further comprising a plant protection agent. 
     
     
       33. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein the growing media comprises peat, perlite, wheat straw, biodigester remains, bark, coir, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
       34. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein said pot or container is biodegradable and/or plantable. 
     
     
       35. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein the growing media comprises a soilless growing medium. 
     
     
       36. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein a super amount of a controlled-release fertilizer is a combination of controlled-release fertilizers. 
     
     
       37. The plant growing system of  claim 1 , wherein said controlled-release fertilizer is a 3-4 month controlled-release fertilizer (19 Jun. 2010), a 5-6 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012), a 8-9 month controlled-release fertilizer (17 May 2011) or a 8-9 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012). 
     
     
       38. The plant growing system of  claim 25 , wherein said controlled-release fertilizer is a 3-4 month controlled-release fertilizer (19 Jun. 2010), a 5-6 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012), a 8-9 month controlled-release fertilizer (17 May 2011) or a 8-9 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012). 
     
     
       39. The plant growing system of  claim 27 , wherein said controlled-release fertilizers is 3-4 month controlled-release fertilizer (19 Jun. 2010) or 5-6 month controlled-release fertilizer (15 Sep. 2012).